Clay Center City Council voted to approve two separate sidewalk projects within the town. Ninth Street between CCCMS and the to-be-built Multi-Generation Life Center and a West Trail Leg will all receive new concrete walkways. The latter will span from Ray’s Apple Market, across the north side of the highway, crossing in front of GNBank, then spanning the south side of the highway before turning south at C Street, ending at Clay Center Housing Authority, or Apollo Towers.   

The project will cost a total of about $450,000, with sidewalks costing $8 per square foot.

It will be funded by a combination of grants and private funding, while the City will match funds at 15%, or about $40,000. In addition, the City will provide signage, like stop and street signs that are faded.

Grow Clay County Director, Natalie Muruato said the project will provide some much-needed safety features to areas with high foot traffic.

“Once the life center is built, kids will most likely walk there from school and right now there’s either dirt or the street,” she said. Adding that visible crosswalks will add a layer of safety in areas that are more popular for walking.

“When some people walk to get groceries, that’s really important for them to have a safe crossing and a safe place to walk.”

Through a KDOT cost-share grant, the City, Grow Clay County, and the Clay Center Exploration Trails committee have teamed up to fund the project. Funds from Blue Cross Blue Shield Pathways will also go toward the sidewalks.

“This is a great public-private partnership,” Muruato said. Multiple letters of support were also provided to the City before the official vote.

In total, $50,000 comes from BCBS Pathways $15,000 from the Exploration Trails for a total of $65,000 in private funds invested.